PSS Care Group
Therapeutic Residential Children's Homes
“Really assuring to know that you work so therapeutically, and actually put theory into practice. I feel I can
approach you to discuss any issues, and I feel you meet the young people’s wishes and feelings.”
" I have found the manager and the team to be helpful, professional and clearly have
the interests of the young person at the front of decisions.
In meetings, they have been his advocate in a professional way. The young person seems to be comfortable there and I could see a good relationship between the young person and the manager on screen by the way they interacted. Communication with us has been good. I have no concerns at all with any care or attitudes of those in the home. "
“This was one of the most welcoming homes that I have been in, staff are every so friendly and I love their vision regarding helping young people make positive changes."
Our Journey so far
Personal Security Services Ltd (PSS) proudly celebrates its 31st year of dedicated service, having earned a strong reputation for the secure transportation of vulnerable individuals and as a trusted training provider.
In the last seven years, we’ve ambitiously expanded to include a group of residential children’s homes: Marula House and Nyala House. We then expanded to Invictus House, which has been open since November 2023 as our very first therapeutic children’s home. The success of Invictus House has paved the way for the opening of our second therapeutic home, Tala House, in August 2024.
With these developments, we are proud to announce that all of our homes are now undergoing therapeutic development and have fully adopted this model, ensuring a consistent and transformative approach across our services.
The vision for providing residential childcare was born from the passion and commitment of our directors, who have long been approached to support young individuals without a permanent residential placement. The directors, have a true desire to help, support, and nurture the next generation, giving them the best chance of success. Through their dedication, PSS has grown into a leading provider of care for some of the country’s most vulnerable and challenging young people.
Our management team, which includes a highly experienced operations team with many years of expertise in the industry, shares a unified vision of offering exceptional care, support, and transformative opportunities for young people who present behaviours that challenge. Our Head of Residential Services & Therapeutic Development played a key role in designing the incorporation of the therapeutic model into our daily practice. In doing so, the company carefully researched many therapeutic models before selecting Social Pedagogy's Head, Heart, and Hands model, after reviewing extensive research conducted by the National Centre for Excellence in Residential Child Care (NCERCC). This evidence-based approach aligns perfectly with our values and provides a comprehensive framework for supporting young people in our care.
Additionally, our Head of Residential Services & Therapeutic Development created a bespoke therapeutic training programme, certified by Pro Trainings, which is taught to all staff at PSS Care Group by both the Head of Residential Services & Therapeutic Development and our highly talented Business Manager & Training Lead. This ensures that every member of our team is equipped with the skills and knowledge to deliver the highest standards of therapeutic care. Whilst also having time to speak with two of our operations team about there experience in this field.
We are driven by the belief that every young person deserves a chance to thrive, and our approach is rooted in the principles of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and Social Pedagogy. These frameworks guide our person-centred, holistic care, while fostering a reflective and learning-driven environment. This approach enables us to provide not just a home, but an environment where young people can truly grow.
At PSS, we are committed to continuous improvement, striving to evolve and exceed expectations. Our growth is guided by a spirit of openness and collaboration. We actively seek the insights and perspectives of parents, carers, advocates, local services, like-minded organisations, and our placing authorities, as we believe that working together is key to achieving the best outcomes for the young people in our care.
Be a part of the change
We have a fantastic opportunity at PSS Care Group for someone to join us in the position of a enthusiastic, positive and highly motivated Support mentor in our beautifully located homes. We are also always open to applications for Registered Managers and Deputy Managers to assist with the growth of our business. We may not have management positions available straight away but with our growth and development we are always open to applications.
We are searching for People who want to be trained in therapeutic care with young people and have the drive and passion to promote change in the lives of our young people. We seek those who have the ability to be positive role models and assist our young people in the therapeutic process and assist them in accessing all levels of support. We welcome applications from all walks of life. Previous experience will be taken into consideration.
We offer a positive therapeutic working environment with knowledgeable senior management and support in all areas of your development. We have beautifully decorated homes located in Suffolk and Essex that boast beautifully designed interiors. We don’t believe in our young people or staff being numbers and we ensure they feel at ease and supported throughout.
We deliver a wide range of training with guidance of a highly experienced Senior operations Team. We have the privilege to offer bespoke internal Therapeutic training. Support mentors will offer 1:1 support to the young people in the home and support the team in creating a better future for our young people.
Desirable:
· Completed, or working towards the Diploma Level 3 in Residential Child Care or equivalent
· Experience working within a residential childcare setting
Applicants aged 21 and above
Essential:
· Driving Licence
· Able to work flexible hours, inclusive of weekends
The ideal candidate would be someone who is positive, energetic, and self-motivated with outstanding leadership skills, career driven, has a child-centred approach and who has a desire to make a difference in helping young people develop their independent skills to support their life’s ambitions. You will have all the training you need to succeed in your role and succeed with supporting and helping our young people to develop.
Please Note: If you have not received a telephone call within 10 working days, unfortunately on this occasion you have not been successful.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent
We believe that a good work life balance is imperative. Your down time is very important to us which is why we work on a 3 days per week rota to ensure therapeutic working with our young people and appropriate rest time with your family and friends. Working this way ensures not only therapeutic working but also consistency, predictability, productivity, and balance.
Shift times are – (07:30 – 22:30)
Night awake support – 21:00 – 08:00
Sleep ins – 22:30 – 08:00
Sleep ins – Everyone is required to complete one sleep in per week, there may be times where additional is required and where possible 2 hours’ notice before shift will be given. Sleep ins are paid at an additional hourly rate.
Staff are expected to monthly attend team meetings and group supervisions that last for an hour to an hour and a half.
PSS Care Group recognises the need for appropriate staffing levels to provide support in all areas of the workforce. Each employee adheres to the health and safety requirements and presents a proactive child centred approach in their workplace practices. The home aims to have a staffing team which consists of the company structure as displayed above. The home is staffed 24hours a day to support the needs of the young people. This level of staffing covers the safety and wellbeing of each child residing in our care and each staffing level ratio is dependent on the individual needs of the Child or Young Person.
There are times whereby staff may need to lone work both in the home and away from the home, this will be risk assessed based upon the young person in placement.
Management is on call to support staff out of office hours. Management will always be available from 09.00-17.00. PSSCG aims to have a Team Leader and a team of Therapeutic care and support mentors on each shift. Our staffing ratio is dependent on the needs of each individual Child but a minimum 1:1 ratio is our norm during the hours of 08:00 and 22:00. Our staff begin their morning shifts from 0745, which assists with preparing the Young People to attend school.
The home operates 24/7, and the Children and Young People are always supported. During the night, there will be a minimum of one waking night and a sleep in or 2 sleep in staff or 2 waking nights.
All staff will be required to attend training and meetings. The shift structure have been designed to reduce chances of burn out as therapeutic homes are a lot more taxing on the body and mind and requires a higher level of observations and monitoring.
Please note the recruitment for PSS Care Group is conducted by an outside recruitment agency. To apply to work with us please email a copy of your CV and the location you are based to Ashton@psscaregroup.co.uk.
Admissions to our homes
At PSS Care Group, our goal is to meet the unique needs of every child in our care. We believe that admissions should always be planned with the involvement of the family and relevant professionals, ensuring a collaborative approach to supporting each young person.
We understand that moving to a new home can be a challenging experience. Our priority is to help the young people joining us feel welcomed and comfortable, helping them transition smoothly into their new environment. We offer opportunities for the young person to visit the home beforehand, where they can meet the team and get to know the house, its routines, and the young people who already live there. This gentle introduction aims to create a sense of familiarity and ease.
Many of the young people referred to us may have previously experienced difficulty in finding the right home. We recognise that some may have complex needs, such as:
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Behaviour that can be challenging, including verbal or physical aggression
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Self-injury or self-harm
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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
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Communication difficulties or delays
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Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
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Attachment difficulties or disorders
PSS Care Group offers both short-term and long-term homes, depending on availability and the needs of the other young people already in the home. We aim for a minimum stay of six months to allow time for the therapeutic process to be effective. As such, we generally do not accept stays shorter than this.
If the decision is made to end a young person’s stay with us, we kindly request 28 days' notice by email, except in cases where an emergency situation arises, such as significant harm to themselves or others, or serious criminal damage.
In the first six weeks of the young person living with us, if it is determined that the home is not meeting the young person’s needs, or if their presence is impacting the well-being of others in the home, the decision may be made that this is not the right home for them. In such cases, the local authority will work to find an alternative placement within seven days. We believe that this helps to ensure positive outcomes for all young people in our care. In extreme situations, we may need to have an emergency ending immediately to safeguard the well-being of everyone.
After the initial six weeks, the management team will conduct a review to assess the suitability of the home and discuss the potential for continuing the stay. All admissions are ultimately at the discretion of the individual home managers, ensuring that each decision is made with the young person’s best interests in mind.
Please contact us with any referrals you may have so we can best find a home that may suit your young person.
Our Homes
At PSS Care Group, we firmly believe in providing therapeutic, holistic, and person-centred care. Working therapeutically is a mindful approach to fostering healing and recovery. We are proud members of the Community of Communities quality network, adhering to the TCC standards set by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
The company conducted thorough research into various therapeutic models before selecting the Social Pedagogy's Head, Heart, and Hands model, following an in-depth review of extensive research by the National Centre for Excellence in Residential Child Care (NCERCC). This evidence-based approach aligns seamlessly with our core values and provides a robust framework for supporting the young people in our care. In addition to this, we also integrate Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, as well as principles of playfulness and acceptance, to further enrich our approach.
Our therapeutic model at PSS Care Group is the 3H model, also known as the Head, Heart, and Hands approach.
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The Head represents reflection, mindset, emotions, and knowledge.
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The Heart focuses on feelings and thinking.
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The Hands involve the practical aspects of daily life through creative and developmental tasks.
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This model aligns with the principles of "Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioural" (for those familiar with psychology).
We integrate social pedagogy into everything we do, guiding our work with the values of Empowerment, Education, and Fun. These values are central to our approach with all young people in our care.
Our therapeutic approach blends traditional family values with empowerment and enjoyment. Social teaching is rooted in respect, empathy, dignity, and fostering positive relationships.
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Empowerment: Many of our young people come from challenging backgrounds where their voices and confidence have often been silenced. Our goal is to empower them by championing their successes, ensuring their voices are heard in matters of their care, and equipping them with skills that build their confidence for bright futures.
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Education: Every young person deserves an education. While some may not initially want it, we provide both academic and social education. Using our Head, Heart, and Hands model, we teach everything from key life skills to academic lessons—such as budgeting, overcoming boundaries, and more.
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Fun: Many of our young people have had to mature faster than their peers due to personal circumstances, missing out on childhood experiences. At PSS Care Group, we make it a priority to incorporate fun activities both inside and outside the home—whether it’s fashion shows, pamper nights, takeaway and game nights, pillow wars, water fights, trampolining, or swimming. We believe in creating opportunities for joy and play.
In all that we do, our commitment to the well-being and development of young people is at the heart of everything we offer.
Tala House
Registered to house up to 5 young people of mixed gender who exhibit Emotional & Behavioural difficulties. This home is also able to offer solo provisions in a tailored annex.
In our modern and tastefully decorated house we provide a person-centered approach to care, nurturing the needs of each individual young person. Our aim is to create opportunities and possibilities for the young people to have future successes in their life goals.
Tala House is located within the beautiful riverside town near Chelmsford and close to places such as Maldon, Southend, and South Woodham.
Being located within a small town has many positive factors, this setting offers space away from the busy hustle whilst also giving you good connections and space to be independent.
Tala House is a beautifully built 5-bedroom house, we are fortunate to offer a spacious and traditional home which can accommodate up to 5 children of the same or mixed gender aged between 10-18.
Tala House was born from a vision of providing our second home providing therapeutic, fun, engaging and outstanding support, care, and opportunities. We understand that many young people’s backgrounds, attachment history and past have a significant impact on how they interact with others and behave. We know many young people will have come to us following previous placements having broken down and from difficult and challenging settings.
Tala House is now ready to offer solo placements, or dual placements for siblings. Our focus on solo placements enables us to support young peoples needs in cases where placements may have broken down. Children or young people residing in our solo placement can either remain as a solo placement or this could be used as a bridging placement before entering a placement with others either in the main house or at one of our sister homes if required and places are available.
Nyala House
Registered to house up to 4 young people of mixed gender who exhibit Emotional & Behavioural difficulties.
In our tastefully decorated house we provide a person-centred approach to care, nurturing the needs of each individual young person. Our aim is to create opportunities and possibilities for the young people to have future successes in their life goals.
Nyala House is located within the a beautiful riverside village in Essex.
Being located within a small village has many positive factors, this setting offers space away from the busy hustle to allow the mind the calm from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Nyala House is a beautifully built 4-bedroom house, we are fortunate to offer a spacious and traditional home which can accommodate up to 4 children of the same or mixed gender aged between 10-18.
Nyala House is currently ready to offer solo placements, or dual placements for siblings. Our focus on solo placements enables us to support young peoples needs in cases where placements may have broken down. Children or young people residing in our solo placement can either remain as a solo placement or this could be used as a bridging placement before entering a placement with others either in the main house or at one of our sister homes if required and places are available.
Marula House
Registered to house up to 4 young people of mixed gender who exhibit Emotional & Behavioural difficulties.
Marula House is located in a quiet town close to city connections in Essex. Our home offers a small traditional family home setting for young people of mixed genders between the ages of 8 - 17.
Marula house has a large driveway and surrounding the home is a spacious garden with a generous patio seating area. The ground floor consists of an office, games room with a pool table, toilet, utility room, Lounge leading into the conservatory, dining room and kitchen. The first floor has a sleep-in room, 4 bedrooms and two bathrooms. Within the village there is access to a local doctor’s surgery, mainstream school, community centre, parks and supermarkets which are all within walking distance of the home.
Management and staff have worked closely together in a transparent environment to meet the needs of the young people.
We understand that Marula House is a ‘home’, and this should be reflected throughout the home on all levels. This includes not institutionalising with strict routines but more of a nurturing, warm environment where a young person can call their home and thrive on the positive experiences offered to them. Of course, there needs to be routines and boundaries in place, but it should be done through parenting skills, such as role modelling. Young people have endured trauma that we may never know about, and it is paramount that we are there to support them when they are having a bad day and encourage positive behaviour through positive reinforcement.
At Marula House, we recognise trauma formed practice as a way of helping the young people to achieve safety and a sense of belonging through a nurturing approach that empowers them to make safe choices. This is evident at Marula House as staff work hard to achieve this.
Invictus House
Registered to house up to 5 young people of mixed gender who exhibit Emotional & Behavioural difficulties.
Invictus house is located within a beautiful village in Suffolk.
Being located within a village has many positive factors, this setting allows the young people space away from the busy hustle and bustle that they may be accustomed to the can help them to quiet their mind and become open to change. It is widely proven that green spaces and open spaces provide people with much better mental health than those in busy and crowded areas.
Invictus house is a beautifully built 5-bedroom house, the house boasts beautifully designed bifold doors to the back of the property that leave the stunning brand new open planned kitchen, dining / living space full of light and fresh air.
Invictus House was born from a vision of providing therapeutic, fun, engaging and outstanding support, care and opportunities. We understand that many young people’s backgrounds, attachment history and past have a significant impact on how they interact with others and behave. We know many young people will have come to us following previous placements having broken down and from difficult and challenging settings.
We often become our environment, so we strive to ensure the environment of the house reflects calm, nurturing and empowering spaces.
